newtown, aurora, oak creek, tucson and blacksburg, but victims in baltimore, detroit, new orleans and oakland him and countless other communities large and small across this country. [silence] >> thank you. on behalf of myself and mike, who is traveling overseas, i'm honored to welcome you today. this summit which was conceived scarcely three weeks ago in the wake of the harrowing event transpired in newtown, connecticut. daniel webster, of the johns hopkins center for gun policy and research, were determined for the debate over gun control which must follow from this event be informed by the best research and analysis from across our country, and, indeed, the world. and so for the last several weeks they have devoted virtually every waking moment, in fact there have not been many moments in which they have had a chance to sleep, to organizing this conference. so the two of them, and to colleagues and staff at bloomberg school and elsewhere in our university, who supported them, thank you for your extraordinary leadership. [applause] >> there is, of course a distinctive and noteworthy twist t